Changing plates, tax, tax classification and insurance

[Jillygumbo]

I'm in a quandary! Tonto is in the process of being fully converted and will be ready around the beginning of March. The tax is due 1st March. I want to change the plates before I pick him up. I will need to change the V5C from PLG to Motor Caravan and deal with the insurance change.

In what order should this be done?

1. Tax vehicle as it stands
2. Change plates ready for sale of Tintin
3. Change to Motor Caravan 6 months later (can only do this while taxing according the V5C)
4. Contact the insurer

This would mean it would be incorrectly insured for 6 months after conversion.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[mikeWalsall]

The Tax band would stay the same ..

If it's a reputable / recognised conversion company they should handle the V5 documentation for the 'desirable' 'Motor caravan' change on the V5 ..

To me the priority would be getting the insurance sorted into the right class ....

[Simon Jones]

With C & CC insurance (& probably most others), you can made amendments to a policy usually with a one-off admin fee of around £20. So tell them about the change to motorcaravan at the same time you get the new reg number as it only cost you one fee.

[Jillygumbo]

With C & CC insurance (& probably most others), you can made amendments to a policy usually with a one-off admin fee of around £20. So tell them about the change to motorcaravan at the same time you get the new reg number as it only cost you one fee.

But I heard that the insurance company won't change it from 8 seater to motor caravan until you have proof on your V5C log book and to do that you need to supply reports and photos, which I can't do until it's finished, and the tax is due at the end of the month. The V5C saying you can only change the tax class when you tax the vehicle! So if I tax before PLG to motor caravan, I'll have to wait another 6 months.

There's a possibility that the conversion may be finished by end of February, but not definite. Do I wait in the hope that it'll be finished in time?

I need to change the plates while it's being converted as Tintin is going to stay with the converter! D'oh!

[Joe_anne123]

Can you pay the tax monthly online for the minimum time until it's converted and the v5 updated?

[Simon Jones]

I don't think the tax thing is really an issue. The cost remains the same whether PLG or motorcaravan and when you change the registration plates via DVLA it should automatically update all other documents and records. If it's not currently being used or kept on public highways during conversion you could SORN it and save a few pounds.

[Bob]

That certainly happened when I put a personal plate on the MX5, new tax disc, V5 and MOT cert. all came in the post.

[cmm303]

I understood that Insurance companies vary on the what they require to insure as a camper. Some do not require it to have been registered as a motor caravan but just that it has certain features. I thought C&CC were one of these. So perhaps seek the definitive from your prospective insurer. It could separate the insurance problem from the tax/registration process.

[Jillygumbo]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Paying monthly online means committing to a 12 month period, so that's no good.

Amount of tax is not an issue, but I can only change the V5C to motor caravan "when tax is due". So now or in 6 months' time.

SORN? I suppose I could but is it worth it when the conversion should be finished at most in 3 weeks. I've looked into this. I won't save any money (whole months) but it may save the 6 month wait to register it as a motor caravan.

I'll contact the current insurer, Lifesure, to see what they need and then maybe consider changing to C&CC if I'm not happy when the year is up in September. Just tried to contact them: held on for 15 mins, pressed to leave a voicemail for a callback "That voicemail box is currently full"! Will try later ...

[Simon Jones]

Amount of tax is not an issue, but I can only change the V5C to motor caravan "when tax is due". So now or in 6 months' time.

SORN? I suppose I could but is it worth it when the conversion should be finished at most in 3 weeks. I've looked into this. I won't save any money (whole months) but it may save the 6 month wait to register it as a motor caravan.

...but if you SORN it from end of this month you should get a cheque back for the March period. You have then effectively moved the "tax is due" date from the original 31st March date to whenever you decide to un-SORN it.

[Jillygumbo]

Amount of tax is not an issue, but I can only change the V5C to motor caravan "when tax is due". So now or in 6 months' time.

SORN? I suppose I could but is it worth it when the conversion should be finished at most in 3 weeks. I've looked into this. I won't save any money (whole months) but it may save the 6 month wait to register it as a motor caravan.

...but if you SORN it from end of this month you should get a cheque back for the March period. You have then effectively moved the "tax is due" date from the original 31st March date to whenever you decide to un-SORN it.

The tax is due at the end of February, so if I SORN it now, and re-tax it when I collect Tonto from Den, due in 2/4 weeks, this will likely not result in any refund as it's likely to be taxed in March (no whole month there at all). However, having the pressure taken off me to tax it at the beginning of March will still be a plus.

[Jillygumbo]

Thinking this one through a bit more, if I SORN it and re-tax it the day I collect it, I won't have the evidence at time of taxing (will need to visit a PO because Phil's MOT has not been recorded electronically) to make the changes from PLG to motor caravan.

Is there any leeway so I can do both at the same time or should I just bite the bullet and change the classification in 6 months' time, in which case there's no need to SORN?

[Simon Jones]

I thought all MOTs were recorded electronically at the time of the test? You can check it here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

If the DVLA database has not been updated, there is a risk of being detected on the many ANPR-equipped Police cars & getting pulled over.

[cmm303]

Thinking this one through a bit more, if I SORN it and re-tax it the day I collect it, I won't have the evidence at time of taxing (will need to visit a PO because Phil's MOT has not been recorded electronically) to make the changes from PLG to motor caravan.

Is there any leeway so I can do both at the same time or should I just bite the bullet and change the classification in 6 months' time, in which case there's no need to SORN?

If insurance is the only driver to classifying as a motor caravan then it comes down to what Lifesure say.
Maybe there are other Lifesure users who could comment on whether their Bongo is registered as a PLG or Motor Caravan?

[Jillygumbo]

I thought all MOTs were recorded electronically at the time of the test? You can check it here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

If the DVLA database has not been updated, there is a risk of being detected on the many ANPR-equipped Police cars & getting pulled over.

The MOT is dated August 2015, the bongo was registered here 1 September 2015. I didn't have a problem taxing in September. Just another JAL foible I guess!